A Compromise Which Ends in Tears

Hello Gentle Reader

It been almost a week since the Swedish Academy erupted into a public and catastrophic crisis, over issues regarding sexual misconduct of a members husband, a members lack of good faith and strict compliance with the academy’s statutes of privacy and confidentiality, as well as financial assistance offered to the same member and her husband, by the Swedish Academy, which in its own result ended in an internal statute being broken. This saw to the public resignations of three members, and a whirlwind of controversy and media storm followed. It required his Majesty the King of Sweden to intervene on the mater, and was deeply criticized by the Nobel Foundation, who felt the current behavior of the Swedish Academy, had damaged the Nobel Prize for Literature. There have been calls for the royal patronage to dismiss all members who currently sit on the Swedish Academy and one in four Swedes support this decision. As the Swedish Academy’s failure to govern itself with integrity and conduct itself with decorum, has reached unprecedented levels, it seems they have met and agreed upon a compromise, that is both promising and saddening at the same time.

From what can be gathered from the evidence, the Academy was split into two camps – roughly based around the voting that took place earlier, to decide whether or not to exclude Katarina Frostenson (the academy member charged with leaking Nobel Prize information as well as receiving financial assistance with her husband to operate the club called the Forum); with some minor adjustments.

Roughly, it would appear the first camp was led by former Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, Horace Engdahl—who recently criticized Sara Danius in her role as Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, stating she above all others before her, had absolutely failed in her position. This camp voted to retain Katarina Frostenson as a member of the Swedish Academy, and consisted of:

Chair No. 17 – Horace Engdahl (Leader)

Chair No. 2 – Bo Ralph

Chair No. 3 – Sture Allén

Chair No. 4 – Anders Olsson

Chair No. 5 – Göran Malmqvist

Chair No. 6 – Tomas Riad

Chair No. 9 – Jayne Svenungsson

Chair No. 14 – Kristina Lugn

Chair No. 18 – Katarina Frostenson

The opposing group was led by Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy Sara Danius. This group voted to exclude Katarina Frostenson, on the charges she was accused of not only within the academy’s statutes, but also accepting financial funding from the academy while being member of the Swedish Academy, and of course the controversy her husband brought on. This group consisted of:

Chair No. 7 – Sara Danius (Leader)

Chair No. 8 – Jesper Svenbro

Chair No. 10 – Peter Englund

Chair No. 11 – Klas Östergren

Chair No. 12 – Per Wästberg

Chair No. 16 – Kjell Espmark

Chair no. 13 – Sara Stridsberg*

[Though she originally did not vote on the matter, has recently thrown her support behind Sara Danius]

The following two members have been removed from the discussion and the Academy, and did not or do not, officially belong to either side; and are considered inactive.

Chair No. 1 – Lotta Lotass

Chair No. 15 – Kerstin Ekman

In the end the Swedish Academy has been forced to put aside their differences—and it has been mentioned Anders Olsson was called upon to act as a mediator between the divide, and come to a conclusion and compromise. A deal seems to have been bet, but with tears.

First: Katarina Frostenson, with the charges of leaking Academy information to third parties knowing or otherwise, which may have had personal and financial benefits; seeking financial support from the Swedish Academy with a business she owned with her husband, among other allegations of misconduct; resigned from her seat within the Swedish Academy of Chair No. 18. She will no longer participate in the dealings and decisions of the Swedish Academy going forward.

Second: Sara Danius, must step down as the Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy; a decision which was not met with enthusiasm by all. Sara Stidsberg, reportedly was in tears over the decision, as she supported Sara Danius through the fickle and controversy an came to her defense now more than ever; but walked with Sara Danius after the meeting was held, and she announced her resignation. But if it meant repairing the academy, and beginning to move forward with the great work the institution does, Sara Danius was gracefully and with honour and integrity stepped down from her role as Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, and has reportedly resigned from the Swedish Academy as well.

It’s a sad day for the Swedish Academy, some members—such as Horace Engdahl—believes this departure will allow the Swedish Academy to reclaim its former glory, and place in its position as a once important national and international institution. Others offer warnings that the Swedish Academy will merely go back to its good old boys club days, the very days Sara Danius tried to end, while modernizing and revolutionizing the Swedish Academy to participate with the grander world. Now those plans are tossed into limbo.

But the support for Sara Danius has been pouring in all over. The academy members who left before her: Peter Englund, Klas Östergren, Kjell Espmark, have released a joint statement, where they praised Sara Danius for her leadership and demeanor during the events which had transpired.

“We want to emphasize that throughout this crisis she acted with great integrity and calm determination. We want to express our wholehearted support for her in this difficult moment,”

            [The Joint Statement Stated]

In the end I hope Peter Englund, Klas Östergren, Kjell Espmark, Sara Stridsberg, and any other member of the Swedish Academy, can come to Sara Danius side and toast a drink to her, and give her support. But for those who really mean it, truly surround her, and support her during this difficult and unfortunate time, as she made a difficult decision to propel the Swedish Academy forward, and reignite its dying flame of integrity, with her own.

As for Katarina Frostenson, there is little that needs to be said on the matter. She only resigned on this condition, as she herself could not due the honest act in the first place, which first propelled the Swedish Academy into its current situation. With regards to Göran Malmqvist, I have few and choice words for, he described the meeting as difficult, but Sara Danius’s decision as ‘wise.’ Still I can’t help feel that on a few occasions, Göran Malmqvist betrayed his position with the Swedish Academy and as a sinologist at times, which resulted in a Chinese government approved patsy to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. But I had little respected for Malmqvist before now, and none certainly now. Sture Allen, a previous Permanent Secretary, apparently has known about the claims of Sexual Abuse for some decades now, when he first received a letter from a young woman accusing the husband of Katarina Frostenson, of sexual misconduct. Sture Allen, reportedly disregarded the letter as ‘not important.’

What does this mean for the Swedish Academy? Of eighteen chairs, only eleven are active and filled; meaning the Swedish Academy cannot hold a quorum, and no major decisions can be made at this time. It is unclear yet, if former members who recently resigned will return to their posts, or if new provisions will be adopted to allow academy members to resign. As for the Nobel, the crisis has severely damaged its integrity. There is no word on whether it will be awarded this year or not.

If the Swedish Academy chooses not award the Nobel Prize for Literature on grounds of reprieve and respite it is understandable. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to rebuild the reputation of both the Swedish Academy and the Nobel Prize for Literature.  

In the end, my sympathies go out to Sara Danius. Her tenure as Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, was short, but she proved to master the task of announcing the Literature prize, dealing with the media on an official capacity and perhaps reinvigorating the award itself. I wish her the best of luck in her future, and know she had a magnificent job, despite what others may say. Her resignation is sad and heartbreaking, as much as it is tragic for the Swedish Academy, who refused to do the right honest action when called to.

The Best of Luck Sara Danius.

M. Mary


Post Script - Edit & Update - 

After Sara Danius' resignation Sweden erupted in support for the former Permanent Secretary and members of the Swedish Academy. Politicians, the public, writers, and former members of the Swedish Academy, all wore puss bow styled blouses or scarves in support of Danius. Meanwhile, Anders Olsson has become the temporary Permenant Secretary of the Swedish Academy, but has found himself in a bit of hot water with his royal patron, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, by implying the His Majesty, was complicate or even active in the resignation of Sara Danius, to help resolve the crisis within the Swedish Academy. The Royal family's press office, has denied this claim vehemently, and in a meeting with Anders Olsson was held, where an explanation for the comment was sought. 

Kjell Espmark, one of the three members who resigned first in protest, has drafted a formal and official request for resignation from the Swedish Academy. Currently, as it stands all chairs on the Swedish Academy are occupied for life. Since the crisis had first become public, there have been suggestions of reforms to the membership status of the Swedish Academy, whereupon His Majesty the King, would amend provisions, which will allow members to resign and be replaced. However, there has been no further word on whether or not this reform will take place, at this time. To reiterate, the Swedish Academy, now only has eleven members, and requires twelve to hold a quorum to make decisions, such as electing and appointing new members. 

This will most certainly will not be the last we have heard about the Swedish Academy and its current state of duress. For now, we must wait to see what will happen going forward, and see how the Academy will regain the confidence and trust, while re instituting faith and prestige in the Nobel Prize for Literature, which it most certainly has tarnished. 

For Further Reading -- 


https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2018-04-12/efter-krismotet-danius-och-frostenson-lamnar

http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/nobel-swedish-academy-head-resigns-1.4616997

https://www.thelocal.se/20180413/swedish-academys-first-female-head-ousted-after-metoo-scandal

http://time.com/5238852/nobel-swedish-academy-resignation/

https://www.svt.se/kultur/bok/las-ostergren-jag-lamnar-in-en-formell-begaran-om-uttrade

https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2018-04-12/efter-krismotet-danius-och-frostenson-lamnar

Previous Blogposts on the Matter -- 

Shocking News from the Swedish Academy 

Swedish Academy Controversy (Continued) 

Horace Engdahl Speaks Out